The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Minister seeks all-party support on Mullaperiyar issue

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Minister seeks all-party support on Mullaperiyar issue

Special Correspondent

Kerala’s proposal to construct a new dam is a novelty, says Durai Murugan

CHENNAI: Public Works and Law Minister Durai Murugan on Friday called upon political parties to cooperate with the State government on the Mullaperiyar dam issue.

Replying to the debate in the Assembly on a special call attention notice, the Minister said that on issues such as this, he was particular that differences between political parties in the State should not dominate. Though there were thousands of issues, the parties in Karnataka and Kerala did not fight among themselves on inter-State river water disputes.

Referring to Congress whip S. Peter Alphonse’s suggestion for taking an all-party delegation to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the Minister wanted to know whether he would be able to ensure the participation of all the parties. Mr. Durai Murugan said that on Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi’s advice, he would proceed further.

Referring to the State government’s petition before the Supreme Court challenging the amendment of the Kerala Irrigation and Water Conservation Act, he said the final hearing was expected this month.

He contended that Kerala’s proposal to construct a new dam was of recent origin.

On other steps taken by the State government, Mr. Durai Murugan said Mr. Karunanidhi had written to Dr Singh on seven occasions and to his Kerala counterpart 20 times.

O. Paneerselvam (All India Anna Dravida Munentra Kazhagam), K. Arumugam (Pattali Makkal Katchi), V. Sivapunniyam (Communist Party of India), C. Govindasamy (CPI-Marxist), R. Gnanadoss (Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) and D. Ravikumar (Viduthalai Chriuthaigal Katchi) participated in the debate.

They expressed concern over the Kerala government’s proposal of new dam which, they said, would harm the interests of people of the State, particularly of those in six southern districts.

Achuthanandan’s plea

Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan has met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi and urged him to immediately convene a meeting of the Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

He sought permission to construct a new dam after decommissioning the existing structure across Mullaperiyar.

Mr. Achuthanandan reiterated that Kerala would continue to provide water to Tamil Nadu.

Talking to journalists here after meeting the Prime Minister, Mr. Achuthanandan said Dr. Singh had agreed to consider the request. “But everything depends on the response of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi to the request,” he said.

In his memorandum to Dr. Singh, Mr. Achuthanandan pointed out that Kerala was constantly threatened by the fragility of the dam causing “fear and panic among our people. What is even more distressing is the inflexible attitude of Tamil Nadu government towards this genuine concern of Kerala.”

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